Pickleball paddle

ABSTRACT

A pickleball paddle includes a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. The paddle body has at least one hollow cylindrical space therein. An angle is formed between an axis of the hollow cylindrical space and front and back face plates of the paddle body. The hollow cylindrical space has an axial length and a radial length. The axial length is greater than the radial length. At least one rolling member that can roll back and forth along an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space is disposed in the hollow cylindrical space. The pickleball paddle can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball and absorb vibrations.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/412,421, “PICKLEBALL PADDLE”, filed on May 15,2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pickleball paddle, and moreparticularly to a pickleball paddle which can enhance an explosive forcefor hitting a ball and absorb vibrations.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pickleball is a paddle sport (similar to a racquet sport) that combineselements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The game started duringthe summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Wash. The pickleball court issimilar to a doubles badminton court. Two or four players use solidpaddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymerball, similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net. A pickleball paddle isshaped like a larger table tennis racket, originally made from wood. Inthese days, the pickleball paddle may be made from glass fiber,composite materials and graphite fiber.

The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions andlayout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar totennis, with several modifications. Only the serving side may score apoint (similar to badminton). The ball is served with an underhandstroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level (waist isdefined as the navel level) in an upward arc. A player may enter thenon-volley zone to play a ball that bounces and may stay there to playballs that bounce. The design of pickleball is to enable the players tobe active. Pickleball is a patient competitive sport, not depending onstrength or brute force. The player must exit the non-volley zone (thefirst seven feet from the net) before playing a volley, which isbeneficial to reduce an excessive smash in front of the net.

In the United States, pickleball has become a regular sport in physicaleducation classes of junior high schools, and has become popular amongyoung people and the elderly. In New York, more than 500 schools haveset pickleball as a course. There are many pickleball competitions inthe United States every year. The United States has the InternationalFederation of Pickleball.

A conventional pickleball paddle on the market includes a paddle bodyand a handle connected to the paddle body. In order to make the paddlebody have a better shock-absorption effect, the paddle body has anaccommodating space. Composite filler is disposed in the accommodatingspace. The composite filler is usually made of EVA foam. Although itprovides a better shock-absorption effect after the composite filler isused, the explosive force for hitting a ball is greatly weakened.Besides, the overall mass of the paddle is increased, which affects theuser's experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pickleballpaddle which can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball andabsorb vibrations.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts thefollowing technical solutions:

A pickleball paddle comprises a paddle body and a handle connected tothe paddle body. The paddle body has at least one hollow cylindricalspace therein. An angle is formed between an axis of the hollowcylindrical space and front and back face plates of the paddle body. Thehollow cylindrical space is arranged obliquely relative to the front andback face plates of the paddle body. The hollow cylindrical space has anaxial length and a radial length. The axial length is greater than theradial length. At least one rolling member that can roll back and forthalong an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space is disposed inthe hollow cylindrical space. The longer axial distance provides therolling stroke of the rolling member.

In another embodiment, a right angle is formed between the axis of thehollow cylindrical space and the front and back face plates of thepaddle body. The hollow cylindrical space has an axial length and aradial length. The axial length is greater than the radial length. Atleast one rolling member that can roll back and forth along an axialdirection of the hollow cylindrical space is disposed in the hollowcylindrical space. The longer axial distance provides the rolling strokeof the rolling member.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obviousadvantages and beneficial effects. Specifically, it can be known fromthe above technical solutions:

At least one hollow cylindrical space is provided in the paddle body. Arolling member that can roll back and forth is placed in the hollowcylindrical space. When the user instantly swings the paddle body to hita ball, the rolling member in the hollow cylindrical space is firstpushed against the bottom wall of the cylindrical space on the otherside of the face plate due to the effect of inertia. When the paddlebody hits a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At thistime, the rolling member hit the top wall of the hollow cylindricalspace from the bottom wall of the hollow cylindrical space at a highspeed due to inertia. This impact force is transmitted to the hittingface plate almost in time, which brings the paddle a secondary explosiveforce. This can enhance the explosive force for hitting the ballgreatly. Besides, because the interior of the hollow cylindrical spaceis not solid, the rolling members rolling in the hollow cylindricalspace can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle when the paddlehits the ball, providing a shock-absorption function.

Regardless of whether an inclined angle or a right angle is formedbetween the axis of the hollow cylindrical space and the front and backface plates of the paddle body, it does not affect the secondary impactforce and shock absorption effect. The main function of the change inthe axis of the hollow cylindrical space is that the user can select adesired paddle according to the way he/she hits a ball (cut a ball,drive a ball) to make up for the lack of hitting of strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view in accordance with a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line A-A of FIG.1,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of FIG. 3 in another state;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line B-B of FIG.2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of FIG. 5 in another state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a pickleball paddle according toa first embodiment of the present invention comprises a paddle body 10and a handle 20 connected to the paddle body 10.

The paddle body 10 has at least one hollow cylindrical space 30 therein.An angle is formed between the axis of the hollow cylindrical space 30and front and back face plates 12 of the paddle body 10. In thisembodiment, the hollow cylindrical space 30 is arranged obliquelyrelative to the front and back face plates 12 of the paddle body 10. Theaxial length of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is greater than theradial length of the hollow cylindrical space 30. As shown in the lowerportions of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, at least one rolling member 40 that canroll back and forth along the axial direction of the hollow cylindricalspace 30 is disposed in the hollow cylindrical space 30. Alternatively,as shown in the upper portions of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a plurality ofrolling members 40 that can roll back and forth along the axialdirection of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is disposed in the hollowcylindrical space 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a pickleball paddle according toa second embodiment of the present invention comprises a paddle body 10and a handle 20 connected to the paddle body 10.

The paddle body 10 has at least one hollow cylindrical space 30 therein.In this embodiment, the hollow cylindrical space 30 is perpendicular tothe front and back face plates 12 of the paddle body 10. The axiallength of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is greater than the radiallength of the hollow cylindrical space 30. As shown in the lowerportions of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, at least one rolling member 40 that canroll back and forth along the axial direction of the hollow cylindricalspace 30 is disposed in the hollow cylindrical space 30. Alternatively,as shown in the upper portions of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a plurality ofrolling members 40 that can roll back and forth along the axialdirection of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is disposed in the hollowcylindrical space 30.

Specifically, the paddle body 10 includes a substrate 11, front and backface plates 12, and a frame 13. The front and back face plates 12 areattached to two sides of the substrate 11, respectively. The frame 13 isfixedly or detachably connected to the circumferential side of thesubstrate 11.

The hollow cylindrical space 30 may be a circular cylindrical or asquare cylindrical space, and it may be other shapes, not limitedthereto. The number of hollow cylindrical spaces 30 is not limited. Therolling members 40 are made of various materials, such as metal. Therolling members 40 may be spherical or in various shapes. The number ofthe rolling members 40 is not limited, and can be arranged at anyposition of the paddle body 10 as required.

The use of this embodiment is described as follows:

When the user grabs the handle 20 and swings the paddle body 10, thepaddle is speeded with certain acceleration by the user, and the rollingmembers 40 in the hollow cylindrical space 30 are in close contact withthe bottom wall 321 of the hollow cylindrical space 30 due to inertia,as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. When the paddle body 10 hits a ball, thespeed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this time, as shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the rolling members 40 hit the top wall 322 of thehollow cylindrical space 30 from the bottom wall 321 of the hollowcylindrical space 30 at a certain speed due to inertia, and the rollingmembers 40 apply an impact force to the hollow cylindrical space 30.Therefore, the hollow cylindrical space 30 brings the paddle a secondaryexplosive force, which can enhance the explosive force for hitting theball greatly. Besides, because the interior of the hollow cylindricalspace 30 is not solid, the rolling members 40 rolling in the hollowcylindrical space 30 can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle whenthe paddle hits the ball, providing a shock-absorption function.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not tobe limited except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pickleball paddle, comprising a paddle body anda handle connected to the paddle body; the paddle body having at leastone hollow cylindrical space therein, an angle being formed between anaxis of the hollow cylindrical space and front and back face plates ofthe paddle body, the hollow cylindrical space having an axial length anda radial length, the axial length being greater than the radial length,at least one rolling member that can roll back and forth along an axialdirection of the hollow cylindrical space being disposed in the hollowcylindrical space.
 2. The pickleball paddle as claimed in claim 1,wherein a right angle is formed between the axis of the hollowcylindrical space and the front and back face plates of the paddle body.